What it Means to be a 21st Century Educator

Being an educator in the 21st century means being an educator of the future. It means having and applying new ideas to education, incorporating new concepts to our lesson plans and upgrading technology in our schools. As educators we are the key to unlocking our students, our own, and the future humans future. Education has history that means as an educator today, it is our responsibility to research and thoroughly understand teaching styles that have existed in the past all over the world. How can we improve if we don’t modernize working concepts and create new ones that push our students to learn at new heights? The past will scaffold what we create for education in the future.
The future is what we push to live in every day, and because of this I believe that one of the most major and important components in creating stronger educational programs is incorporating modern technology in everyday educational activities. In my classroom students will know how to properly research online. They will understand how and why blogs and wikis work. They will find the internet useful for communication. They will be able to make movies and podcasts using programs like imovie and garage band.
Embracing this useful tool, as teachers will enable our students to get more out of their time in the classroom. As teachers we are now able to teach interactively using tools like Smartboard. We can teach geometry to third graders using Scratch and GeoGebra. The possibilities are endless and they will keep our students active in class and interested. Technology is something students begin to understand at an early age and consistently use in every day life.
I believe that teaching some core subjects through technology will convince students that they do and that they can apply technology they learn about in school to the rest of their lives. The more familiar we make students are with the work will allow them to someday enhance and invent other products that will expand the human races possibly of life in the future.
Being a teacher in the 21st century means giving students experience. My classroom will be full of this. Learning will not all about bookwork and worksheets. I believe that students learn to their best ability in a multitude of ways. By giving students a hands-on way to learn followed by direction the students can read, listen, see and act upon what they are learning. Giving students the chance to participate enables them to remember, learn from and repeat more easily.
Being a teacher of the 21st century is important. Educators shape the future. It is important to be smart, educated, motivated and concerned with your students. It will be my job as an educator to ensure my students learn what they need to know so that they will be able to push the world forward and make it a better place for everyone.

Weather Quiz!

Hi Preston and Jaden!!

Dear Preston amd Jaden,

 My name is Nicole and I live in Maine.  I am 19 years old. In 3 weeks it is my birthday! Then I will be 20! I have two sisters.  They are younger than me. Their names are Michelle and Kaitlin.

  One of my favorite hobbies is reading! Do you like to read? I also really like playing video games! Last year i got a Wii, but I like my Playstation 2 more.   What kinds of things do you like to do? 

 Do you like school? I think it is really fun. :)

:) Talk to you later!

- Nicole

ACTEM Conference

My top 10 List From the ACTEM Conference

1.     Scratch-  Scratch is a really cool math application that I learned about.  It is downloadable through http://scratch.mit.edu/download and compatible for Mac and Windows based computers.  What it is a cartoon character that is a cat and you can make it move, and draw shapes.  This application would be very helpful when teaching basic geometry, or reinforcing geometric principles.

 

2.     Using the Internet in Schools- Bob’s Best of the Web was truly influential.  We talked for the most part about how to use the Internet and time on the Internet most efficiently.   The most important concept I learned from this was to not rely on the Internet solely but to incorporate it regularly into lessons, so that students can learn to use this tool properly.

 

3.     Free High school and College courses online- One of the workshop sessions I attended was the Online Bargain Basement.  After hurricane Katrina two teachers gathered the materials for college and high school courses that students could take for free to keep up with school to help them graduate on time. http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/online_hs.htm

 

4.     Curriki- Curriki is a program that was created by Google.  Through this you can view different parts of the world in a snapshot via satellite.  This can be a great tool for teaching students about geography.

 

5.     Smartboards- Smartboard’s can be used very effectively in classrooms.  Everything is at the click of a button.  A teacher can put up pictures websites notes and use them all without having to move about the room and interrupt the learning that should be going on.  Using Smartboards will allow students to learn more in a shorter amount of time when used properly.  I think they will be great to have in all of today’s modern classrooms!

 

6.     Jing- Jing is an awesome program that allows people to make videos, take pictures, as well as take screenshots.  This program can help teachers evaluate students work that is done on the computer. Jing can be downloaded for free from this site:  http://www.jingproject.com

GGeogebra-  This is another math program that can be downloaded online.  This software allows students to create shapes, graphs, and learn about number value.  It is easy to use and very accessible because it is free.   It would be suitable to use even in third grade. Can be found at:

Importance of Science based projects- Science is a leads to the future.  In order to stay ahead in the world.  I learned about how important including engineering and physics is due to the fact that very few students in the U.S. take it anymore.  Perhaps starting these types of projects younger will raise interest and keep us ahead as a country. http://www.geogebra.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=71&ltemid=55

NLVM- NLVM stands for the National Library of Virtual Manipulative.  It is a great resource for teachers to use in the math subject.  This website has resources for students in pre-k to grade twelve.  http://nlvm.usu.edu/

GMath Dictionaries- One thing I didn't know much about, but know about now is math dictionaries that can be found online.  These can be good resources for students as well as teachers.  I found this one to be particularly informative: http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/maths/dictionary.html

Animal Kingdom Webquest

The purpose of this web quest is to give students a reason to think about and incorporate animal kingdoms into their daily lives.  It is to teach them about the world around them that consists of more than humans.

 

1. Animals, Playgrounds, and Magicians

a. Topic: Students explore, learn about, and relate themselves to animals in the animal kingdom.  They learn about the food chain, as well as what makes animal hierarchy up.

b. Grade Level: 5

c. Task:  You and your friends have always been great animal lovers. One day as you wonder through the park you run into a mysterious magician who tells you he can transform you into an animal which is found in one of the animal kingdoms.  This does sound a bit bizarre to you, but as a whole the group is interested. You decide to research it and decide which kingdom you would all like to be in.  After all he only has enough magic to transform you all one time.

 

2. The Zoo of SanFrantino

a. Topic: Students will learn about animal kingdoms as well as the geography of specific animals by continent.

b. Grade Level: 5

c. Task: On a field trip to the zoo your teacher assigns you into groups.  She says no matter what you need to stick together!  As you walk around the zoo you notice something, there are no employee’s anywhere!?  Something odder is that 6 different animals (one from each kingdom) are walking about! You know they belong somewhere! You and your classmates decide to take the reins and put them back where they belong, the only trouble is you don’t know where they belong or what kind of environment they need to live in! Lucky you have your trusty laptop on hand! Research the animals and get them into a place that would feel just like home to them.

3. Halloween!!

            a. Topic: Students learn about animal kingdom traits, environments and distinguishments.

            b. Grade Level: 5

            c. Task: You and six friends decide to dress up as animals from the animal kingdoms.  None of you want to be from the same kingdom.  As a group you decide to do some research!  Each of you will take on a role: Bird Specialist, Fish Specialist, Reptile Specialist, Mammal Specialist, and Amphibian Specialist. Your groups goal is to learn as much about each kingdom and present your findings to each other so that you may chose which animal to be before Halloween!

 

4. Writing a play

            a. Topic: Student will write a play about the animal kingdoms and how they differ from each other.

            b. Grade Level: 5

            c. Task: Students in groups will take on roles as a specific animal kingdom in a scene of a play that they will write based off of information they get off of the internet.  Each group will have to include what makes animal kingdoms different and similar. 

Teacher Websites

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1995/5/95.05.08.x.html

http://www.lessonplanet.com/directory/Science/Biology/Taxonomy/Kingdom

https://www.adobe.com/education/instruction/teach/studio/akde_tguide_c4.pdf

http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr3uaesc.html

http://www.schoolspecialtypublishing.com/store/default.aspx?DepartmentId=192

 

Student Websites

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science/Animals/Animals.htm

http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/vertebrates.html

ttp://kids.yahoo.com/animals

  

Inclusive Classrooms and Technology

            Technology is tool that can be used to benefit teachers and students in the classroom.   Teachers can use these tools to help students who are at the proper level, generally struggling, have disabilities or that are looking to be more challenged.  In 1998 Congress made this possible for many suffering students by amending the Rehabilitation Act so that Federal agencies would have to make technologies accessible to individuals who need them (www.section508.gov). This can be found in Section 508, which was primarily written to eliminate the barriers that were stopping people with disabilities to be able to enhance their lives.  It allows them to reach for higher goals using new technology (www.section 508.gov).  Imagine how this affected classrooms nationally.  They became and are still becoming a whole new world, where new more useful technology comes out ever day.

 Technologies don’t have to be these large, plug in, battery using devices, although many beneficial technologies do have those qualities.  Technologies can be virtually anything.  In classrooms teachers are now supplied (when needed) with tools like special large gripped scissors to help with fine motor skills.  They are given items like USB keyboards to help students learn to type.  Electronic items like Tango are extremely beneficial to students who have trouble expressing them selves.  It allows them with the push of a button to express themselves properly to teachers, and other classmates.  In many cases this keeps them out of trouble, and allows them to connect better socially.  There are so many ways technology like those can benefit schools.  This way all students can receive the proper challenging and education they deserve.  After all no education is given equally, however, every child should receive an equal opportunity to learn. 

Today we use technology for most everything we do in classrooms.  On a daily basis teachers use projectors, whiteboards, televisions, and computers to teach.  All of these can be used to inform groups of students at a time.  Involving them in class discussions about what they are learning will help them learn to communicate in new ways.  Computer programs can allow them to healthily compete against each other, work together or work individually on their own level.  

As a future teacher I plan on embracing all of this.  Every extra tool I can use to teach my students is a step forward in helping them create something better for their own tomorrow.  Engaging them in the technology will help them learn to communicate with it.  With a better understanding they will be able to use it all to their advantage, especially for those who need to learn even the basics of school activities.   

 

Works Cited

Section 508: 508 Law. Last Updated 4/ 30/ 2008. http://section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=3

What does it mean to be an educator in the 21st century?

  Long ago in the age of memorization and constant repetition, dinosaurs roamed the earth.  Today we live in a new age where technology has taken over the lives of educators and our students.  Why? How did this happen? Is it bad, dangerous, or will this help us improve as a society?  There are many varying opinions on this, but lets begin with question one: What does it mean to be an educator in the 21st Century?

            Educators are motivators, teachers, professionals, they are meant to be informative, resourceful, and responsible.  That is a timeless definition.  In today’s society they have more resources than ever, they have the Internet, smart-boards, and computer programs.  These types of resources, when used effectively, can greatly improve the quality of learning going on in a classroom. 

John David Son says “Technology has the power to capture our students attention by making learning interactive and fun. (Learning & Leading with Technologies pg. 8)” At Thornwood Public school students used the computer to translate bilingual students stories to English, to help them learn English literacy more efficiently.  (Dual Language Bookmaking). 

Technology is for more than just fun though.  College students featured the video Visions of Students Today say that technology allows them to multitask in a way that allows them to get all their work done and learn more (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o).  This is effective for them, when time management means more than it ever has before.  It means their future.

            Of course though with every positive there is a noted negative.  Technology is useful when used correctly.  David M Marcovitz says “Our scientific stimulation allow students to explore rich worlds, growing generations of plants, and animals in an instant, watching them die, changing the parameters and then doing it all over again.  The upside is tremendous, but don’t forget about the downside: attention. After seeing the flower bloom who has the patience to wait for it to bloom in real time? (Learning & Leading with Technology pg. 9).”  He makes a solid point, who does spend their time like that.  It is a fair time to ask oneself if you would endure that, would someone 100 years ago wait to watch that happen?  Then again with technology, is it fair to make someone put that much time and effort into waiting to learn something?  It is a goal to learn as much as possible in as little time as possible in today’s society.

            For teachers and students technology is a very effective tool to use to educate, interest, and build into children.  They do need to learn its uses to survive in our world.  It may or may not cause a short attention span, but when that attention span isn’t necessary in today’s society why worry about keeping it.  The order of values is always going to change, and if it truly is a completely necessary quality it will come back and thrive in future students lives.  In the mean time technology in today’s school systems is only improving education as we know it.

 

Works Cited

Is Educational Technology Shortening Student Attention Spans? Learning & Leading Technology. August 2008.  (pg. 8-9)

Dual Language Learning FROM: Cummins, J.,Brown, K., Sayers, D. (2007) Literacy Technology, and Diversity: Teaching for Success in Changing Times. Boston: Pearson

Mwesch. A Vision of Students Today. Kansas State University. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o).

My Introduction

This is my first (for real) blog. Of course I've blogged here or there before online but I've never really been one of those hardcore bloggers. Perks of the internet right? I'm a college student, and right now I am taking my Practicum for Elem. Edu. One of my classes is Computers in the Classroom.. so i hope that this is going to help me figure out how to make it more useful. ANYWAY I am very excited about this semester. THE END (for now.) -Nicole